Forming crosslinked-glutathione on nanostructure

Abstract

In a method of forming a light emissive nanostructure, a quantum dot is provided and a crosslinked-glutathione layer around the quantum dot is formed. The light emissive nanostructure thus comprises a quantum dot and a crosslinked-glutathione layer around the quantum dot. In another method, a metal-based nanostructure is provided, and a crosslinked-glutathione layer coated on a surface of the metal-based nanostructure is formed. The metal-based nanostructure is thus coated with a crosslinked-glutathione layer. To promote crosslinking and stability, the glutathione layer may be crosslinked in the presence of an activating agent and sufficient amount of free glutathione.

1 . A method of forming a light emissive nanostructure, comprising:
 providing a quantum dot;   forming a crosslinked-glutathione layer around said quantum dot.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said forming said crosslinked-glutathione layer comprises crosslinking glutathione around said quantum dot. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said crosslinking comprises mixing said glutathione around said quantum dot with an activating agent and free glutathione in a solution. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said solution comprises a plurality of glutathione-capped quantum dots, a molar ratio of said free glutathione to said quantum dots in said solution being higher than 100. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein a molar concentration of said quantum dots in said solution is from about 0.01 μM to about 100 μM. 
     
     
         6 . The method of any one of  claims 3  to  5 , wherein said solution comprises water. 
     
     
         7 . The method of any one of  claims 3  to  6 , wherein said solution comprises an organic solvent. 
     
     
         8 . The method of any one of  claims 3  to  7 , wherein said activating agent comprises carbodiimide. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said carbodiimide is 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) or diisopropyl carbodiimide (DIC). 
     
     
         10 . The method of any one of  claims 3  to  9 , wherein said activating agent comprises N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS). 
     
     
         11 . The method of any one of  claims 1  to  10 , wherein said crosslinked-glutathione layer around said quantum dot has an external diameter of less than 12 nm. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said diameter is from about 4 to about 7 nm. 
     
     
         13 . The method of any one of  claims 1  to  12 , wherein said quantum dot comprises a CdTe, CdSe, ZnSe, ZnCdSe, CdS, ZnS, PbS, Ag, or Au crystal. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said quantum dot is a CdTe crystal. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said quantum dot comprises a CdSe crystal core, a first shell around said core, and a second shell around said first shell, said first shell comprising CdS, and said second shell comprising ZnS. 
     
     
         16 . A light emissive nanostructure comprising a quantum dot and a crosslinked-glutathione layer around said quantum dot. 
     
     
         17 . The light emissive nanostructure of  claim 16 , having an external diameter of less than 12 nm. 
     
     
         18 . The light emissive nanostructure of  claim 17 , wherein said diameter is from about 4 to about 7 nm. 
     
     
         19 . The light emissive nanostructure of any one of  claims 16  to  18 , wherein said quantum dot comprises a CdTe, CdSe, ZnSe, ZnCdSe, CdS, ZnS, PbS, Ag, or Au crystal. 
     
     
         20 . The light emissive nanostructure of  claim 19 , wherein said quantum dot is a CdTe crystal. 
     
     
         21 . The light emissive nanostructure of  claim 19 , wherein said quantum dot comprises a CdSe crystal core, a first shell around said core, and a second shell around said first shell, said first shell comprising CdS, and said second shell comprising ZnS. 
     
     
         22 . A method of coating a nanostructure, comprising:
 providing a metal-based nanostructure; and   forming a crosslinked-glutathione layer coated on a surface of said metal-based nanostructure.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said nanostructure has a volume of less than 0.001 μm 3 , and said forming comprises crosslinking glutathione coated on said nanostructure. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22  or  claim 23 , wherein said nanostructure is a metal-based nanotube, nanoneedle, nanorod, or nanowire. 
     
     
         25 . The method of any one of  claims 22  to  24 , wherein said nanostructure comprises Cd, Zn, Pb, Cu, Ag, Au, or Hg. 
     
     
         26 . A metal-based nanostructure coated with a crosslinked-glutathione layer.